The Craft Begins

Apparently, I’m into passing my blog bookmarks along…

1.  The thing that I like most about Black*Eiffel is the fact that I think she and I have almost the exact same taste.  At least, I always really like the things she posts, whatever that means.

2.  Reading the Rockstar Diaries always makes me happy.  Taza and her husband always seem to be having so much fun and getting everything they can out of life, and taking fantastic pictures along the way.  A really uplifting read.

3.  La Marquise Des Anges is always filled with pretty, colorful and feminine finds.

4.  If you ever find yourself lost in the maze that is Etsy nowadays, Simply Designed and Etsy Finds takes a lot of the guesswork out of the process.  Great items, talented sellers, and everything is pulled together by color or theme beautifully.

5.  If you still long for the days of your 35mm camera, I Heart Film is the blog for you.  Constantly rounding up excellent photographs, all taken with analog tools.s, i

I’ve tried experimenting with resin over the years, with varying degrees of success.  The people at Dinosaur Designs seem to have elevated resin to an art form.  Unusual jewelry and housewares can be found at their online shop.  From their website:

Olsen, Ormandy and Rossler have managed to intersect the boundaries between art, craft, design, fashion and business without pause, and have applied the same creative energy and focused vision to each new opportunity. They have forged an important place for themselves within Australian design history, not only through their longevity and popularity but also through the distinctively Australian character of their work, with many of the colours and forms they use evoking the casual lifestyle and vibrant natural landscape of Australia.

I like how organic-looking everything is, which is a real contrast to the raw material that they’re using.  I’m already plotting what I would do with one of those fabulous bowls.a

I love shops filled with clever goods.  If you’re looking for a gift for a hard-t0-shop-for friend, may I recommend MollaSpace.

I can’t get enough of that peace-bomb sculpture.  Or what about the tiny planter that looks like an apartment building?  I bet you don’t have shot glasses in the shape of moose and bull heads.  It’s the kind of shop that stocks the slightly zany and totally unnecessary, but absolutely desirable.

I’m totally in love with the awesome work of designer/illustrator Erin Jang.  She works for Esquire Magazine during the day doing awesome layouts and spends her night designing wicked invitations and posters.  I just wish that I had something I required her services for!

I especially love the different faces collaged together.  What an unexpected and delightful result.  You can find more of her work on her blog.

That’s it.  I want to get all of my friends together and throw colored powders at each other and dance and generally frolic and have a good time.  Anyone want to join me?

You can find more pictures of the Indian Holi Festival here…The festival is in the spring.  I think I’m going to have to book a plane ticket.

Stacy has been one of my very good creative friends for years, so I was excited when she agreed to do an interview!  Here it is, for my dear readers:

1.  What did you have for breakfast this morning?

A bowl of oatmeal with organic milk, wheat germ, golden flax sprouts, and sliced apple bananas with a dash of cinnamon and vanilla extract for good measure.

2.  What do you find most inspiring about where you live?

Our little house and our garden makes me HapPy. And that keeps me inspired everyday in countless ways. Everyday I stare out my windows and see the beautiful green and colorful lush garden outside. Oranges, reds, purples, pinks, shades of greens, chartreuse, silvery whites from the plants and flowers. Dark grays, chocolate brown, white from the homes outside. Terra cotta pots, light green lichen on the trees, light pale gray white from the hanging Pele’s hair. Curling ferns, spiky leaves, long straight leaves, short round leaves…so many shapes too numerous to count. And this is only from my back garden.

3.  What kind of music are you into lately?

I’m more of a TV DVD Movie watcher versus a music listener. If I don’t have the TV on, most of the time I’m just listening to the minah birds, doves, and other birds outside my home singing or talking to each other from one branch to the next while I’m tapping away at my keyboard. Not to mention my little lovebird chirping happily away in our home. When I’m in my car, the radio is on and this is the only time I really have music playing but for the life of me I couldn’t tell you what songs were playing.

4.  Is etsy/creating your full time business?  If not, what do you do in real life?

No, Etsy is not my full time business.  I recently quit my full time job which was being an attorney with the Prosecutor’s office.  I’m not practicing law at the moment but perhaps in the future. Right now, I’m doing a little of this and a little of that. So, along with Etsy, I’m doing real estate with my mom, helping with my relatives’ “marketing design”, and I have other projects waiting in the wings.

5.  What is your favorite craft venture and why?

My favorite and so far only craft ventures are my Etsy shops…Stacy’s Designs 88, Blue Lovebirds, and Lilikoi Cottage.  Yes, I have 3 shops. Crazy yeah?  Stacy’s Designs 88 is my first shop and I recently opened the other 2 shops to start specializing.  I’m still working on this “specialization” process which is taking a bit of time and energy. I love creating and then seeing my creations sell. It’s a thrill. I love communicating and working with my customers on their custom orders be it bridal parties, gifts, or for themselves. I really find pleasure when my customers love the jewelry I have created. It keeps me going.

6.  Was there someone in your life who was a creative inspiration for you?

When I was growing up, my Dad and my Aunty Dorene were my creative inspirations. My dad is talented and can draw very well. He loves to sketch and doodle. He used to  draw up blue prints when he first started working. I think he would enjoy painting but he’s color blind and I think that’s what stops him from pursuing it. My Aunt got me on the road to creating. When she was attending the university and getting her teaching degree, I was her guinea pig at a young age. So, I remember her teaching me how to make puppets with felt, and other art activities.

7.  What else do you make other than art that you’re great at?

Hey, everything I make is art even if it’s not “art art”. I Love to bake desserts—my current favs are Red Velvet cupcakes. I decorate the cupcakes with cute cupcake tins, white white frosting, and different colored sprinkles. For our family dinners, I’m the one always assigned to create the salad. I love to make it both tasty, healthy, and colorful. My salads are more like fruit vege salads…like salad extravaganza! In my cooking/baking, I’m really into not only how it “tastes” but how it “looks”. My friend Laurie once told me she likes to cook bc it’s like creating art. Years ago when she said this, I couldn’t comprehend this because I was not into cooking.  But, now that I cook, I totally get what she means. And besides Cooking, presentation of the food is also an art in itself.

8.  When did you first start creating things?

My earliest memory of creating something was when I was in 1^st Grade. I still remember a poem I wrote about a bunny rabbit. Hmmm, now that I think about it, I also used to have a favorite yellow bunny that I used to carry around everywhere. Was that poem an Ode to my Bunny?
9.  What is your creative process like?

It’s hard to describe. Sometimes, I look at things and then an idea will literally pop into my head.  Other times, a lot of things will be running through my head, I’ll play around with my materials, and then I get it into my head that I have to do “X” and then I start doing it.  I like to complete a project and go with the flow until it’s done. But, I find it hard to stick to doing the same old thing. So, I’m always working on a new and different project. I can be creating a necklace, then move onto earrings, then start creating a Tag or card.
10.  What’s a cool thing that you think everyone should know about?

I don’t want to sound corny but I think everyone should check out Etsy because there are so many cool handmade items to be found there created by artisans all over the world. I constantly meet people who know nothing about Etsy and I just have to tell them about it and get them hooked.  It’s amazing, or maybe not so amazing, the number of people who haven’t heard about Etsy.
11.  What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you?

Okay, I don’t know if I’ve had “crazy” things happen to me.  But this happened to me when I vacationed in Paris by myself.  On my way to Paris, I learned 5 words/phrases in French to get me by. Like “Can you speak English”, “Thank You”…you get the picture. I’m terrible at languages.  Now, this was my first time visiting France and the first time being by myself in a Foreign country where English was not their primary language.  I was a bit nervous about surviving my week in Paris alone.

While I was at the Louvre Museum, I was getting a bite to eat at the museum’s café. This was probably like my 2^nd day in Paris.  From the corner of my eye, I noticed one of the museum café’s waiters trying to explain something to this Chinese National couple but they weren’t getting it.  But I understood what the waiter was trying to say to them in French! So, I stepped in and explained in English to the couple what the waiter was saying to them in French. Luckily, they spoke some English so they were able to understand me.  In the end, I had a happy couple and a happy waiter. It was at that moment that I knew that I could survive my vacation in Paris alone.  I was so happy!  Who would’ve thunk?

12.  Where’s your dream vacation spot?

I have so many…I want to revisit Italy, England and France with Jimmy.  Let’s see there’s also Spain, New Zealand, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Hong Kong…
13.  What’s the last thing you bought online?

I’ve been trying to be good and not buy too many things. But, recently I bought some gemstones for a custom order, more Swarovski crystals, more Sterling Silver charms getting ready for the Christmas season,,,hello, my name is Stacy and I’m a online shopaholic…stop me please!
14.  In a perfect world without the constraints of reality, what would you be doing?

If I could do anything and money grew on my tree, Jimmy and I would travel to wherever we wanted to first class and live it up wherever we went. We would go to all the top events like the Olympics, the Oscars, the Super Bowl.  I would have my own craft show sorta like Martha Stewart but locally based in Hawaii.  We would live in different places in the world like Tuscany, Provence, New York.  And, then we would sometimes just sit by our eternity pool in our backyard overlooking both the Pacific Ocean and the mountains and enjoy the company of our family and friends.

15.  Do you make a signature dish?  What is it?

I think I make a mean Red Velvet Cake and a pretty sloppy (in a good way) Lasagna.

16.  What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Never go back, keep moving forward.
17.  What’s your most treasured possession?

If there’s one thing that I can just stare at and feel happy that I “possess” it, then it would have to be my Grandma’s Miriam Haskell necklace.
18.  Do you have any pets?

We have our one and only Tobey. She’s a Lovebird. But she thinks she’s acts more like a dog with feathers. Never a dull moment. My husband Jimmy can understand Lovebird chirps now.  This means “open my drawer”, that means “hey, did you hear me? Open my drawer!”, and then that non-stop shrieking means “Hey Mom, don’t you know you need to open up my drawer!?!”  We LoVe her like nobodies’ business.
19.  What’s your best garage sale find?

My Best:  Okay, I don’t have “Bests” but I do love the sewing box full of Vintage buttons, a Queen Sized chenille white bedspread, a Japanese Lacquered tea set…

The Thing that Got Away: I still mourn the loss of the Le Creuset deal of a century that I walked away from and regret til this day. The gal was moving and wanted to sell at least 5 different pots in different colors and sizes for only, get this, $75.  I was young, naïve, not much of a cook, but I loved the look and the colors…didn’t even know what the brand was until later.  My dream is to one day own a great set that I love.  And, if I can find it at a garage sale for a steal that would make my day. Sigghhhh….
20.  What are you most passionate about?

My passions come and go like the wind! Right now it’s trying to get down to a decent body weight and eating healthy. I’m even writing everything down in a Food Journal. And, I saw a dietitian.  My mantras…Portion control, more veges and fruits, more exercise!

As a bonus, Stacy has offered 15% off any item in any of her 3 shops until September 20th!  Just add “fan of the craft begins” in your note to seller and she’ll refund you via paypal.  Thanks Stacy!

1.  Saddle Stitch Studio is a relatively new Etsy seller, but she’s got great stuff.  If you’re looking for an invitation for an event, it’s a great place to start.  I also love these popsicle prints.  Summer is going by so fast!

2.  Tissue paper poms are all the rage right now, and for a good reason.  They’re fun and colorful and add great atmosphere to any party.  If you don’t want to make them yourself, you need to stop by Party Poms.  They’ve got every color, shape and size you could ever want.

3.  I love the way that these butterflies look descending down a layered cake.  What a great look for a wedding or party where the only requirement is COLOR!  Butterfly Bazaar has these rainbow butterflies and more.

4.  It seems like everyone I know is having babies lately, so I’ve been on the hunt for cute baby gifts.  These blankets from Ciuccio fit the bill perfectly.  Interesting modern colors and designs, backed with organic fleece.

5.  There’s something about colorful picados that really make a party.  Ay Mujer makes picados that are personalized to your liking or event.  I can’t get enough of that airstream trailer – fits perfectly down here in snowbird filled Arizona!

Thanks to this week’s fabulous sellers!

At first, I couldn’t decide what I thought of this dish, and while I was thinking about it, I noticed that there was none left.  I’m going to take that as a good sign.

I personally believe that fresh produce is the best thing ever, and also that everything is better with bacon.  Add a little fresh dill, and that’s how this dish was born.

Ingredients:

4-5 ears of fresh corn, shucked
1/2 of a medium white onion
3-4 thick slices of bacon
fresh dill
salt and pepper to taste

First item on the agenda is to cook the corn.  I like to char it a bit on the grill, but you can also boil it.  Just make sure to put the corn into a pot of cold water with a splash of vinegar and take out as soon as it reaches the boiling point.  Cut bacon into little slices, width-wise.  Fry up in a pan on medium heat until just slightly short of your desired crispiness.  I like mine fried to the point where it’s practically charcoal, but that’s personal preference.   At that point, add onions and cook until softened.  Drain off most (but not all) of the bacon grease and then put back on the burner.  Cut the kernels of corn off the cob with a sharp knife and cook with bacon and onions until  well mixed.  Remove from heat, toss with a bit of freshly chopped dill, add salt and pepper to taste, and enjoy.

That I one day dream of having will hopefully look something like this…

There will be chalkboard paint on the walls displaying the day’s specials, and striped wallpaper everywhere else (I cannot get over that ceiling!).  I’ll have a big industrial but still chic KitchenAid Mixer for all of my pastries and good-looking chairs from Crate & Barrel (left, and right).  It might be a little cafe in a city somewhere, or it might just be my kitchen at home.  Only the future will know…

Food, fun, and great weather – what more could you want?

1.  For anyone who doesn’t live on the West Coast or has never had one before, In-N-Out Burger (3711 E. Broadway Blvd.) is a must do.  I don’t even like fast food, and I constantly crave these burgers.  The quality is key.  Fresh patties, real preservative-free buns, hand-leafed lettuce and they actually cut the potatoes and fry them there.  I know I sound like an ad for In-n-Out, but it truly is that good.  Make sure to order something off of the “secret menu” – it isn’t marked, but Animal Style is my favorite.

2.  Its unassuming location in a strip mall on a commercial drive doesn’t nearly do justice to how good the food is at the New Delhi Palace (6751 E. Broadway Blvd, 520.296.8585).  Everything is brought out in little copper pots, and the food is perfectly, richly spiced without being overpowering.  The owner also takes pride in his restaurant and comes out personally to make sure everything is ok, which I always find to be a nice bonus.

3.  It may seem overwhelming at first, but the Tanque Verde Swap Meet (4100 S. Palo Verde Rd, 520.294.4252) is the place to be on Saturday night.  It is open all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday but weekend evenings are the most fun.  It’s crawling with families and kids, and you can find anything from churros to cacti and accessories for your person (and your car!).  Last weekend I found some Japanese fishing floats for $1 apiece.  It’s a great way to get a feel of what Tucson is really like.

4.  On the other end of the shopping spectrum you have La Encantada (Skyline Dr & Campbell Ave, 520.615.2561).  Nestled at the base of the foothills, this ritzy mall boasts a number of high-end shops and a fantastic view of the mountains.  It’s an outdoor mall, but the courtyard is climate-controlled with fountains, shade and mist sprayers.  If it gets too warm, I suggest checking out Frost (2905 E. Skyline Dr Ste. #286, 520.299.0315), which has probably the best gelato I’ve ever tasted.

5.  One great thing about Tucson is its relative proximity to Mexico.  That means that there are little Mexican import shops all over the city.  One of my favorites is Borderlands (301 E 7th St, 520.622.6454‎), in the hip 4th Avenue University District.  Colorful imported oilcloths, crepe paper flowers, colorful picados and punched tin lanterns are just some of the wonderful finds.  I also like their slightly rustic pine furniture.  The prices are great, and there’s something for every taste.  You can take the trolley along 4th Avenue and check out the rest of the great shops as well.  Keep an eye out for vintage – The Other Side (321 N. 4th Ave., 520.326.8736) is one of the best.

6.  If you’re looking for dining that’s a little bit on the higher end, make sure to check out NoRTH (2995 East Skyline Drive, 520.299.1600).  It is the place to see and be seen by the Tucson crowds on the weekend.  Make sure to grab a patio table if it’s available – there’s a fantastic view over the Tucson valley and it is a great escape from the noise inside.  Some winners in my book are the Zucca Chips ($5), the short rib Osso Bucco ($22) – you’ve never had better polenta in your life – and the passion fruit Frizzante ($8.50) for a lovely cool-down before dinner.

7.  You cannot miss Kon Tiki (4625 E Broadway Blvd, 520.323.7193).  A tiki bar born in 1963 and transported in a time capsule to today.  Nothing has changed.  Not the menu, not the drinks, not the glass cage behind the bar that hosts a Nile Monitor lizard.  Elaborate fiberglass tikis, a fountain, and hanging japanese fishing float lanterns say aloooooha.  You can see more pictures here.  Steps to enjoyment: 1. Order a scorpion for two.  2. Drink.  3. Call a cab.

8.  There’s not too many drive-in theaters left.  You’d think it was because they were decreasing in popularity, but then you would change your mind after a visit to the Deanza Drive-In Theater (1401 South Alvernon Way, 520.745.2240).  Always packed, the line starts when there’s still plenty of light outside.  Make sure to bring a blanket and some pillows, for the double features ensure you’ll be there for a while.

9.  The Boneyard is probably what Tucson is most famous for, though most people don’t know it.  There are thousands of planes scattered across the desert, representing almost every military make and model in existence.  The climate is ideal for long-term storage, and the hard ground guarantees that they won’t go sinking into the mud.  The sheer scale of this is stunning.  You can see it really well off of Kolb Road, near 1-10, or you can go to the Pima Air and Space Museum (6000 E. Valencia Rd., 520.574.0462) and see a little bit of it up close.

10.  Summers get pretty hot in Tucson, and a great way to escape the heat is to take a drive up Mt. Lemmon.  The road is easy driving for you flat-landers (though crowded on the weekends) and the views over the Tucson valley just can’t be beat.  Once you get to the peak, aspen trees, lovely hikes and cool weather are your reward.

And for a true desert experience, don’t forget to take a drive through Saguaro National Park.  Tucson and the immediate area are the only places in the world where you can find this majestic and slightly anthropomorphic cactus.  This icon of the desert is also an ancient one – they are at least 80 years old before they begin to grow their first arms.

I hope that this gives you an idea of some fun things to do in this quirky desert town.  Is there an authentic Tucson experience that I missed?  I’d love to hear from you!

Here’s a roundup of some knitting-related resources I’ve found lately.  I’m sure you know of one or two (or all) of them, but just in case, here they are:

1.  Just in time for fall, a lovely scarf pattern from Sushi Pie.

2.  Purl Soho is one of the best yarn shops around (so I’ve heard), however, if you don’t live in NY, they’ve got a great website too.

3.  If you’re a DIY kind of person and like to dye your own fiber, PRO Chemical and Dye is a great place to find great quality dyes.  If you’re not a knitter, they also have marbling and batik supplies, as well as lots of other goodies.

4.  If you’d like to learn how to spin your own yarn, MAKE: has a great starter’s kit in their shop.

5.  If you’d like to forget all of the hard stuff and just knit, Spinning Wheel Studio has some great hand-spun yarns.

6.  One of my favorite knitting blogs, Pickles, has a great new yarn shop.  And $5 international shipping this month only!

This is a great little one-stop shop for all the shabby chic homewares you’ve been looking for.  I enjoy it because it’s got that fresh from the flea market look, but it’s not terribly feminine.  I could see those Bordeaux bags rockin’ a bachelor pad somewhere.  They’ve also good eco-friendly cleaning supplies and some tasty foodstuffs.  Definitely worth checking out.

That’s another thing I’ve been working on – a facebook fan page!  They seem to be all the rage nowadays so stop by if you’d like and say hi!  Is there anything you’d like to specifically see (or not see) on facebook from this blog?

Also, the cool logo was inadvertendly stolen by my (sorry!) and the original design comes from Kelly at the yes, please blog (worth a visit if you get a chance!)